Machine for applying heel covers



Aug. 29, 1933.

Filed March 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l www M Aug. 29, 1933. N. H. KNOWLTON MACHINE FOR APPLYING HEEL COVERS Filed March 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ @um Patented Aug. 29, 1.933

MACHINE FOR APPLYING` HEEL COVERS `Norwood H. Knowlton,

to United Shoe Mac Rockport, Mass., assigner nery Corporation, Patern son, N. J., a Corporation of New Jersey Application March 6, 1931'. Serial No. 529,676

23 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for applying heel covers and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for bending over the edge of a heel and applyingto the attaching face of the heel the 5 marginal portion of a cover which has previously been positioned and brought into contact with the lateral surface of the heel.

In covering'heels for Womens shoes such, for example, as the wood heels which are extensively used, a coating of adhesive is Vapplied to the Aheel cover or the heel, or both, after which thecover is applied to and drawn smoothly into contact with the lateral surface of the heel, namelythe side and rear faces thereof, the marginal portion of the cover projecting beyond the upper edge of the heel, which is to be understood throughout the following specification and claims as designating the corner or edge defined by the junction of the lateral surface and the attaching face'of the heel regardless of its position. 'Ihe next step is to bend and draw this projecting marginal portion of the heelcover over'the edge of the heel and press it down rmly upon the attaching face.

The last-mentioned operation requires considerable care to draw the cover smoothly over the heel edge, distribute the extra fullness evenly where the marginal portionof the ,cover is bent inward and press it down evenly and firmly upon the attaching face of the heel, and is a tedious operation because of the long distancev around the periphery of the attaching face.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a machine with the aid of which this operation may be performed in a uniform, perfect manner almost instantaneously, whereby both the quality of the product may be improved and the output greatlyincreased as compared with the hand operation heretofore practised.

In accordance with the foregoing, a feature of l the invention consists in a heel cover applying, machine in which are combined means for wiping f the projecting marginal portionof a cover over the upper edge of afheel and for pressing the wiped over cover into contact with the attaching face of the heel, said means beingconstructed and arranged to act at a substantial angle to the upper edge of theheel along the rear and `side edges of the heel upon relative movement of the heel and said means. l

Another feature of value and importance consists in the provision of means for so arranging the cover material as it is wiped over the edgeof the heel that thel surplus fullness of the material shall be evenly distributed, so that the smoothest vantages of the invention will best be underpossible Vsurface will result whenv the material is pressed into adhesive contact with the heel.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invenvtion thesedesirableends are attained by the provision of wipers between which and the heel, to v the lateral surface ofwhich `the cover has been applied, relative movement may be effected in a. manner to wipe `the .projecting margin of the cover over the edge of the heel substantially simultaneously aroundtheentire curved portion of its periphery; and a coiled wire spring the convolutionsfof which constitute `corrugations arranged tov gather the marginal portion of the .cover and insure even distributionthereof while the wiping operation is continued and completed. After the wiping operation has been finished the heel,`with the inwardly turned'marginal portion of the cover stillin contact with the convolutions of the spring, may be pressed firmly against the spring to increase and complete the adhesive attachment of the cover, the spring being preferably supported in a manner to permit sufcient yielding to accommodate any normal amount of irregularity in the work. v

In a convenient form of the inventionthe cover wiping and applying elements may be, and as illustrated in the foregoing drawings are, collectivelyA horseshoe shaped and constructed for closing movement upon the work, being preferably operated by movement 'of the work into their field of operation as, for example, by mechanism including an element engageable with and movable by the heel being operated upon. The foregoing and other features and ad,`

stood and appreciated from reading the following detailed description of one good embodiment thereof in .connection with theV accompanying drawingsfin 'which Fig.,1 is a `perspective view` of the essential operating kparts of fthe-machine;

Fig.` 2 vis a longitudinal section from front to rear showing thework in position for `the beginning of the operation; r

Fig. 3y is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2, showing the parts at the `conclusion, ofthe operation;

Fig.v 4 is a view in cross section showing the parts at the conclusion of the operation;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the machine; and

Fig. 6 is a vview of the machine in side elevation.

Referring first to Figs. `1 and 6, it will be seen that the machine is adapted to be mounted upon anvupright column 1,0` which maybe supportedvuov NT OFFICE I j i in any. suitable manner, as by a foot 12 in which by a screw 26 isr it is shown as secured by a set screw 14.

The machine itself comprises a U-shaped base member a horizontal bar 20 upon which is mounted a 16 in which is secured by set screws 18 forwardly extending bracket 22 secured to the bar 20 by set screws 2 4;y f

Fastened to, and supported by, the bracketr22 a table 28 in the front end' of which is a tapped hole for the reception of a screw 30 which passes through aslot 32 in 'an angular member having an upright arm 34 and a horizontal arm 86, the latter in connection with the upper end` oi the arm 34 constituting `a T-shaped heel support upon which be placed with its attaching facedown. The screw and slot mounting `30, 32 vprovides for vertical adjustment of the said heel support relative to the table 28. The rear portion of the tablev 28 is extended at botrr-sidesof` thegmachine, as best shown in Fig. 5, and near the jextremities `of the extensions verticalpins 38 aresecured therein by set screws 40, said pins constituting stationary pivots about which relatively movable `armsf42, converging v Y toward the heel support S6, are adapted to swing.

Attached to the inner ends of thefarms 42 are wiper members 44j of substantially U- shaped cross-section, as shown in Figs. 2, 8 and4. The inner wall 48I ofeach of the wiper members has aninclined face 48, the function of .which will presently appear, 'and the outer wall is somewhat higher than the linner wall, kfor a reasonV which will also' be'explained'hereinafter. I

VA piecer 52jofjyieldingl material, such as soft rubber, disposed in the bottom of the channel between the inner and outer walls 46, 50 of the .yviper members, extending all the way from the ifrontend'of Aoneof saidV members toy A coiled wire springv around the front end oi the other,l

. 54 is also arrangedin said channel, resting upon kment'52 are naturally straight,

of the wall 50.

and being supported by theY yielding element 52 and extending the full length of the channel behind the inclined faces 48, retaining plates 56 preventing displacement of lthe spring and the supporting element 521 vBeth the spring y54 and: the supporting eleappr(xin'iately'horseshoer shape and vinserted in thechannel, where they are' retained under ten'-V Their resilience tends to causethem tov sion.`

straighten' out and this tendency, supplemented, if necessary, by an auxiliary spring 58, see Figs. 2, 8 and'4,fcauses the ywiper members to be swung forward about their pivots 38 an'd separated,` as shown in Fig. 5, except when they areY forcibly moved inthe 'reverse' direction, thejsaid wiper lmembers resting and sliding freelyl'upon 'the' 60,

upper surface of the'table 28; 1t ywillA be seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 that the'upper, vwork 4engaging* face of the coiled spring 54 `rises above the upper edge of the wall 46 and liesbelow the upper edge For the-purpose of closing `thewiper members inward toward the heel support `.3 6 there aref the front ends` of which'are wiper members and provided links A6I), pivoted at 62to the respective the rear ends of which are pivotedat 64 to i a lever` 66 which isfulcrumed at68- in a .bracket '70 bolted to the base member 16.V The connection between therbracket 70 and-the base i6 is tongued and grooved asshown at 72, see Fig. Land when the j securing bolt' 74, Fig,v 6, is loosened the bracket may be adjusted in position forwarder rearward of' its yof rocker arms 88 which are a heel mayj nected' mechanism and causing but are bent intoV Vthe attaching face of vthe heel.

Ypress the, cover evenly and inserted a pin 80 constituting a pivotal connection between the lever 66 and the rear ends of a pair of linksr 82 .through the front ends of which passes a transversely arranged rod 84 having its ends secured by set screws 86 in the upper ends or a pair in turn secured to a rock shaftA 90 journaled in bearings 92 extending downward from the laterally extended rear portion of the table 28. Journaled upon the rod 84, between the links 82, is a roll 94 which constitutes an abutment arranged to be engaged by the back vof a heelA and thereby moved rearward to swing the lever 66rearward about through the links 60, to swing the arms 42 about their pivots 38 and close the wipers under the heel,

its fulcrnm 68 and,

A stop screw 96 is threaded through the lever 66 and engages anabutment 98 formed cn the rear j edge of the table 28, thus adjustably limiting the forward position to which the lever 66 can move.

A lock nut 100 secures the screw 96 in adjusted position.

The operation of the above-described mechar nism will nowy be explained. Assuming a ce-f mented cover 102 to have been applied to the lateral surface of'a heel 104, either byhand orlbyl machine, the heel is placed, attaching, face downward, upon the heel support 86, as illustrated in l Fig'. 2, the back of the heel vengaging the abutment roll or member V94. The `heel is now pushed straight backward', moving the roll 94 and itsconthe wipers 44 to be moved inward and rearward about the pivot/S38.

The marginal portion 106, Fig'.'2 ofthe heel cover is rst engaged by the inclined laces 48 ofu" the Vinner walls of the wipers and bent around the f edge of the heel toward its attaching face. As the relative movement of the heel and V,wipers conf` tinues ythe bent-in margin of thev cover engages and rides upon ward pressure is being applied to the heel, to press the upper face of the coiled spring 54, the convolutions of which tendjto 'gather and guide the surplus material intoeve'nly distributed puckers and, it being understood that some down'-V the cover material thus arranged intocontact with This relative movement is continued until the heel is engaged around its peripheryby lthjevouter walls 50 of the wipers which walls are made suiciently high for thisv purpoS, and sufficient ward pressure may now be applied to the heel, if

desired', in order 'to` press'the wiped-over'marg'in'.

rm contact with the attaching of the cover into pressure is appliedto smoothlyy into contact At this time the face of the heel and to produce a smooth, even surface. The heel is now ready for removal from the machine, the parts of which return to the posi" tion shown in Fig. 1, ready for the reception of the next heel to be operated upon.

vAlthough the roll'94 moves in an arc about-a fixed center 90 and the extent f its movementis determined in part' by the profile of the 'back of the heel, the provisions for adjustment lor Ythe bracket '70, the fulcrum pin relativev movement between the heel and 68, the stopl screw 96, j and the pivot pin 80 make it possible to controlthe`- thev 1,924,243` wipers to meet the requirements of heelsof a large variety of sizes and shapes. Y f

Having 'described the invention', whatrI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for applying heel covers, the

of a heel, and means for pressing the `wipedover cover into contact with the attaching face of the heel, said means being constructed and arranged to act at a substantial angle to the upper edge of the heel along the rear and side edges of the heel upon relative movement of the heel asaid means.

`2. In amachine for applying heel covers, the combination of means for wiping a projecting marginal portion of a cover over thefupper edge of a heel, and means `acting in the general plane Y of and at substantially right angles to the upper edge along the sides and the rearmarg'inal portion of the attaching face of the heel to distribute evenly the surplus of wiped over material upon said marginal portion of the attaching face.

3; In a machine for applying heel covers, the

combination of means for wiping a projecting marginal portion of a cover over the upper edge of a heel, and means for distributing evenly the surplus of wiped over material and pressing said material into contact with the attaching face of the heel, said means acting in the general plane of and at substantially right angles to the upper edge of the heel along the rear and the sides of the marginal portion of the attaching face of the heel, and being constructed and arranged to engage substantially simultaneously the marginal portion of the cover around the entire curved portion of the periphery of the attaching face of the heel to lay the same upon the attachingY face.

4. In a machine for operating upon a heel having a cover applied to its lateral surface with a marginal portion of the-cover projecting beyond the upper edge of the heel, means acting radially of the attaching face ofthe heel for wiping in said marginal portion of the cover substantially simultaneously around the entire curved portion of the periphery of said attaching face.

5. In a machine for applying heel covers, the combination of a heel support arranged to position a heel having a cover applied to its lateral surface with a marginal portion of the cover projecting beyond the upper edge of the heel, and a cover wiping and distributing element having cover engaging corrugations disposed radially of .l the attaching face of a heel positioned by said support.

6. In a machine for applying heel covers, aV cover engaging wiping and distributing member comprising a coiled wire.

7. In a machine for applying heel covers, a cover engaging wiping and distributing member comprising a coiled wire and a yielding support therefor.

8. In a machine for applying heel covers, a wiper having an inclined face constructed and arranged to engage and wipe a cover over an edge of a heel, and a coiled wire distributing and wiping element having a cover engaging face behind said inclined face.

9. In a machine for applying heel covers, a wiper having an inclined face constructed and arranged to engage and wipe a cover over an edge of a heel, and a coiled wire distributing and wiping element having a cover engaging face behind and rising above said inclined face.

d 10. Inazmachine forapplyingheelicovers, a

channelshaped wiper having an inclined cover wipingface upon one wall of thejchannel'and acoiled vsp'ringvin the channel,` a cover engaging i face of said spring extending beyond `said wall.' combination of means for wiping a projecting marginal portion of a coveroverJ the upper edge- 11. In a machine for applying `heelcovers, a

channel shaped wipervhaving an inner wall provided withan inclined cover enga'ging'face, a:

coiled spring in? the channel, said'spring havinga-cover engaging Aface rising above said inner` wall, and an 'outer wall extending above the cover engaging fa'ce of said coiled spring. v i

12. In a machine f or applying heel covers, the

combination ofa) pairof channel shaped pivoted wipers, and a coiled spring arranged in thechannel, said spring rbeing under tension and tending i to move said wipers apart.

13. In a machine yfor applying heel covers,'the

combination ofy contractible, horseshoe shaped wiping means and mechanism operabler by engagement of a heel therewith for' contracting said wiping means to wipe acover :over an edge I of the heel.v

14. In a machine for applying yheel covers, the

combination of a1 plurality of cover wiping vvand applying elements whicharev collectively--horse-l shoe shaped, constructed and `arranged vfor'closing movement relative to' a.heel,'la'nd mechanism including an element engageable'with and 'mov- 5` wardly projecting marginal portion of a cover v 1 upon said heel, a movable abutment normally disposed above the heel support in aposition to be engaged by the back of the heel, and connections between said abutment and the wipers for causing operative movement of the wipers when the abutment is moved backward of the heel. d'

16. A cover applying machine having; in combination, a horseshoe-shaped member comprising sections mounted for movement toward y rearward movement',

and away from each other, a4 support positioned between said sections and constructed and arranged to engage the attaching face of a heel beyond the rim of which a marginal portion of a cover applied to the'lateral face of the heel extends, and mechanism to move the sections of the horseshoe-shaped member toward each other to turn the marginal portion of the cover lwhich extends beyond the rim of the attaching face of the heel around said rim and to lay the' said marginal portion upon the attaching face of the heel.

17. A cover applying machine having, in combination, a horseshoe-shaped member comprising sections mounted for movement toward and away from each other, a support positioned between said sections and constructed and arranged to engage the attaching face of a heel beyond the rim of which a marginal portion of a cover applied to the lateral face of the heel extends, an

cover upon the attaching face of the heel. l p

18. In a machine for applying heel covers, a

`abutment member arranged for engagement with uiN7 'Y heel.

Wiper having an inclined face constructed and arranged to wipe .a cover over an edge of a heel, and a resilient distributing and wiping element having a cover engaging face positioned behind and exiy tending beyond said inclined face.

19. Ama'chine for applying heel covers having, in combination, a horseshoe-shaped member comprising sections mounted for relative movement, each of said sectionsl comprising a wiper having a face inclinedfto the path of relative movementl ofY said sections and constructed and arranged to wipe a marginal portion of a cover attached to fa heel and extending beyond the rim of thev attaching face of the same over sa1d rim, and resilient means positioned behind and extending beyond the face of "each ofthe sections and constructed and arranged to lay the marginal portion of the cover upon the attaching face of the 20. In a machine for applying heel coversy the combination of substantially rigid means to wipe a projecting marginal portion of a vcover over the rim of the attachingface of a heel, and resilient means tojypressv the wiped-overl marginal portion Y into contact with theattaching face of the heel.

21,Y A machine for applying heel covers having, in combination, apho'rseshoe-shaped Wiper comprising a plurality of Wiper sections, means to guide a heel beyond the rim ofthe attaching face Tof which a marginalportion of a cover extends Vshoe-shaped wiper against the sharply tion of the cover upon the rear marginal portion curved portion of the horseto inturn the marginal porof the attaching faceof the heel, and mechanism controlled by the heel'to move the Wiper sections together tocause the same to inturn the marginal portion of the cover upon the sides of the attaching face as the rear portion of the attaching face is. being covered.

22. In a heel-covering machine, a horseshoeshaped wiper formed by a pair of sections mounted for. yswinging movement about substantially parallel axes, respectively, included in a plane lying outside the horseshoe-shaped Wiper and positioned adjacent to the sharply curved portion of the Wiper.

23, In a heel-covering'machine, a horseshoeshaped wiper formed by a pair of: sections mounted for swinging movement about substantially parallel axes, respectively, included in aplane lying outside theA horseshoe-shaped wiper and po-` stioned adjacent to the sharply curved portion of the Wiper, and means operated bya heel having. the marginal portion of its'appliedcOVerr projecting above the rim of the attaching face to swing .the sections toward said plane thereby to cause said sections to move toward each other and to inturn the .projecting marginal portion upon the attaching face. j

' NORWOOD H. KNOWLTON.

ynso 

